Belgium/New medical services in Wavre: emergency care outside the hospital
It's happened to many of us: spending 3,4,5 hours in a hospital emergency room. It's a frustrating experience for patients and carers alike. In response to this tension, a new type of structure has opened in Wavre. Urg Anytime can provide a number of treatments at short notice.
All emergencies except life-threatening ones
Halfway between the general practitioner and the hospital, Urg anytime is a new care offering for patients who don't want to wait for hours in the emergency department. This private structure was opened in early January by 4 experienced emergency physicians, well aware of the congestion in hospital emergency departments. They are equipped to deal with traumas such as sprains and strains, stitches, burns, abdominal pain and respiratory infections. There is, however, a limit to how far they can go:
" We don't take on patients with life-threatening emergencies. If a patient presents with chest pain, for example, we'll do the initial stabilization here and then call 112 to take the patient to hospital," explains Dr. Kenneth Coenye, one of the project's initiators.
Emergencies by appointment
Although original in our country, this model is already being implemented in France via unscheduled care centers, and is attracting significant numbers of consultations in neighboring countries. In Wavre, the system works by appointment via a website, so that patients don't have to wait in the waiting room. The practice is open from Monday to Friday during the day, but the opening hours are set to be extended.
Source: www.rtbf.be/
